NATO fighter jets have intercepted three Russian MiG-31 warplanes after they violated Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland, Estonia’s foreign ministry confirmed on Friday, September 19.
Officials in Tallinn condemned the incursion as “brazen” and said the fighter jets remained inside Estonian territory for 12 minutes without permission.
Diaspora Digital Media reported that Estonia, a NATO member since 2004, has reported four Russian airspace violations this year alone.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described the incident as “unprecedentedly brazen” and warned that Moscow’s actions signaled a growing threat to regional stability.
“Russia’s increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure,” Tsahkna said.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed that the alliance scrambled jets immediately to intercept the Russian aircraft. “This is yet another example of reckless Russian behavior and NATO’s ability to respond,” Hart said.
She did not disclose operational details, but Estonian media reported the Russian jets had their transponders switched off, making them harder to track.
Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas branded the violation “an extremely dangerous provocation,” stressing that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “testing the West’s resolve.”
She urged the EU to stand firm, adding, “We must not show weakness.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the warning, saying Europe would “respond to every provocation with determination while investing in a stronger Eastern flank.
As threats escalate, so too will our pressure.”
The Estonian foreign ministry said it had summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires to lodge a formal protest.
The incident comes amid a series of Russian drone and jet intrusions into NATO territory.
Last week, Poland’s military reported shooting down at least three Russian drones, while Romanian forces scrambled F-16s after detecting a drone near their border with Ukraine.
Although Moscow has denied deliberate violations, NATO officials argue the pattern shows deliberate pressure tactics.
Belarus, a close Russian ally, claimed some drones strayed into NATO airspace due to jamming.
In response, NATO has pledged to reinforce its eastern flank.
Fighter jets from the UK, France, Germany, and Denmark are conducting round-the-clock air patrols over Poland and the Baltic region.
On Monday, a French jet was scrambled after another potential Russian incursion.
The violations highlight rising tensions between Russia and NATO since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
With airspace breaches now becoming frequent, NATO leaders warn the risk of confrontation is increasing.
For Estonia and its neighbors, Friday’s incursion underscores the urgency of collective defense.
“Every violation is a message,” one Estonian defense official told local media.
“Russia is reminding us that the threat is real and ongoing.”
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